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I'm looking for a car for my daughter. It would be the second run around car used mainly for getting about town, with the odd trip to Hamilton. Her budget is around $5K. We've narrowed the choices to Mitsubishi Colt and Mazda Demio. Which of the two are better for reliability and are there any issues we should be checking for? Or is there another model we should also consider. Thanks.

The Demio takes this one. The Colt has a CVT transmission which can have reliability issues and be expensive to repair in the event of a failure. The Demio has a good reputation for reliability and would be a good choice in this price range.

We've been distracted by a Toyota Duet 1.3 auto at 110 km which looks very tidy. Does this have the CVT problem? And is it worth considering or would we be better to stay with the search for a Demio? Thanks.

This is another good model and one which we'd have no hesitation in recommending. It should have the conventional 4 speed automatic transmission (not CVT) and has a good reputation for reliability.

The search is still on, thanks to AA mechanical inspections identifying major faults so currently on the shortlist are a 1.3 Hyundai Getz 2005 and a more powerful Toyota Allex Corolla 2004 - both Japanese imports and under 100km. Do these vehicles have the dreaded CVT? And, does either out perform the other in reliability? Thanks again for your help.

The Getz and Allex are both good models with good reputations for reliability. Neither of these have the CVT transmission, and the Allex is available with options of 1.5 or 1.8 litre engine, with the 1.8 having the same running gear as NZ new Corolla.